VOL: 09 - Mt. Xiao guan
To reach Mt. Xiaoguan, we first had to travel to Kaohsiung. We took the high-speed train there the day before our hike and stayed overnight.
Our campsite was near God Pond, about a two-hour hike from the trailhead. We arrived before noon at an elevation of around 2,400 meters and set up camp, leaving plenty of time to explore the surroundings before nightfall.
With the campsite relatively close to the trailhead, everyone was able to bring plenty of food. A small stream nearby provided a steady supply of water. In the warm mountain sunshine, our tents and sleeping bags made for a cozy, peaceful scene.
Although God Pond had dried up for the season, the surrounding scenery remained enchanting. In the middle of the pond stood the remnants of trees that had once been submerged, and we spotted deer tracks in the dry pond bed. As the afternoon wore on, thick mist settled over the basin, lending it a mysterious, almost otherworldly atmosphere.
After nightfall, the temperature dropped and the mist lifted, revealing a remarkably clear sky filled with stars. We gathered around our stove to prepare dinner, enjoying the warmth of a hot meal beneath the starry sky.
Early the next morning, we left most of our gear at camp and set off for the summit of Mt. Xiaoguan with light packs, carrying only the essentials.
Back at camp, we began packing up our tents and sleeping bags beneath the warm mountain sun. We shook off the dew and let the sunshine dry them in no time, savoring a final quiet moment in the mountains.
When we returned to the trailhead, our driver was already waiting for us. He had thoughtfully brought along cooking gear and a gas stove to make us fried rice. We ended the hike with full plates and happy stomachs.
